It was recently reported that there was trouble over on the project DUNE: THE SISTERHOOD, the series being developed from Frank Herbert’s Dune stories. The work was to be driven by the hype off of the Warner Bros. Dune movie. Now new life has been breathed into the series. Details below.
Anna Foerster is said to replace Johan Renck in the role of head director of multiple episodes of the series which looks at the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood which are prevalent players in the Dune saga. Foerster is noted for directing the fifth episode of WESTWORLD’s third season and episodes of Starz’ Outlander series. Foerster made her feature film directing debut with the action horror film Underworld: Blood Wars and in 2016, J. J. Abrams and his production company Bad Robot hired Foerster to direct Lou, a thriller about a mother trying to recover her abducted child. She now steps in to get the Dune prequel series moving forward.
Cast changes and additions are in place as well. Olivia Williams is taking over the role of Tula Harkonnen following Shirley Henderson’s exit. We, of course, know her as Lavinia Bidlow from HBO’s THE NEVERS but now she is one of the key players in THE SISTERHOOD. Her Tula will surely be as strong as a person to reckon with as Lavinia was. Also, Jodhi May is being recast in the role of Empress Natalya as Indira Varma has stepped down. She was in Cinemax’ STRIKE BACK and HBO’s GENTLEMAN JACK but we all remember her as Maggie the Frog on GAME OF THRONES, right?
The series is adapted from the novel “Sisterhood of Dune”, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. It seems to be, even with these new faces in place, a slow process to get the series made. In the meantime, the upcoming Dune Part II movie is releasing in November and should arrive on Max/HBO by this time next year. We will keep you abreast of DUNE: THE SISTERHOOD going forward.
